"Taking screen printing beyond the obvious." That is the mission of JEP Productions, LLC, a Dallas, TX-based garment-printing business that, in a few short years, has risen from very humble beginnings to become a successful operation known for thinking out of the box. The company's accomplishments include not only high-quality garment graphics, but also the introduction of a new scented-ink product designed to open the doors to a world of opportunities.

Humble beginnings

JEP was founded by Josh Hewitt, Ernie Dinsdale, and Patrick Watson--screen printer, CPA, and entrepreneur, respectively. Hewitt got his toes wet in the industry as a teenager when he worked as a screen printer for T-Shirt Promotions (TSP), Richardson, TX. He worked for TSP for the next five years, then, through a friendship with Watson's son, he was introduced to Patrick Watson. The pair immediately hit it off and within six months, they decided to combine Hewitt's printing experience and Watson's business savvy to launch their own screen-printing company. To ensure a strong financial foundation, they brought on Dinsdale as partner and formed JEP Productions.

The trio opened JEP with literally nothing but its name and one account that Hewitt brought to the table. The first challenge they faced was to find screen-printing equipment and a facility to house it in. That's where Hewitt's connections in the industry paid off well. Hewitt learned of a Denver, CO-based screen-printing operation that was closing its doors and selling all of its equipment and supplies. He visited the company and decided to purchase the machinery and related materials, which included an eight-color automatic M&R Challenger press, MaxiCure electric dryer, 75 Newman roller frames, squeegees, flash-cure units, an exposure system, inks, and other production supplies. The entire collection was loaded into a truck and delivered to Watson's driveway, where the truck remained parked until the group located a 4800- sq-ft facility to call JEP's home.